542 
ed a difference too minute to be accurate- 
ly eftimated: but that difference, how- 
ever fmall, appears to confirm the above 
obfervation. The afhes, furnifhed by 
that operation, have been carefully ana- 
Tyfed. C. de Sauffure found, in thofe of 
the calcareous vegetables, a greater quan- 
tity of calcareous earth, and alfo a much 
greater proportion: of filex, than in the 
granitic vegetables; fo that the afhes of 
ef the calcareous rhododendron contained 
fifty-feven parts of carbonate of lime, and 
five of filex, in a hundred ; whereas thofe 
ef the granitic rhododendron containe 
thirty parts of carbonate of lime, and 
fourteen of filex. ‘This extreme differ- 
ence is one of the most convincing proofs 
of the influence of foil on vegetation. 
The calcareous ftone of the mountains 
ef la Salle, upon which C. de Sauflure 
colle&ted the vegetable, whofe afhes he 
analyfed, contains filex. That chymiit 
was curious to know whether thofe which 
grew upon a foil entirely deftitute of that 
earth, would be found to contain any: 
accordingly he analyfed the afhes of plants 
which had grown on the calcareous ftone, 
entirely void of filex, of the mountain of 
Reculey-de-Thoiry in the Jura; and he 
found, in one or two cafes only, a very 
fmall proportion of filex; whereas, in 
the afhes of the vegetables of Breven, he 
difcovered a much greater quantity of 
calcareous earth than that granitic moun- 
tain was capable of furnifhing. C. de 
Sauffure thence draws the geologic cor= 
clufion, that the vegetables cover with 
calcareous earth thofe mountains whofe 
bafe is filex, whereas the reverfe does 
not take place. 
Finally, he inftituted a comparative 
analyfis of the mould in which grew the 
plants of Breven, and thofe of Reculey- 
de-Fhoiry, to determine the relation 
which might be expected to exift between 
that mould, the foil, and the afhes of the 
vegetables growing on it: but he found 
very little ; the mould of Breven yielded 
60 of filex, 14 of alumine, 1.16 of lime, 
&c.: that of Reculey-de-Thoiry, 15 of 
filex, 37 of alumine, 23 of carbonate of 
lime, &e. It is to be recoliedted that 
neither the foil nor the plants of this 
reuntain contained any portion of filex 
{uflicient to becomte a fubjet of efti- 
nation. 

CHALCOGRAPHIC SOCIETY. 
At Deflau, under the aufpices of the 
reigning prince, whoie tafte for the fine 
arts has long been known, 2 iociety has 
lately been formed, under the titie of the 
Chalcographic Society. Its object is to 
Pioeecdings of Public Soctetiess 
{Jan. 1, 
employ fome of the moft fkilful German 
engravers, at Deflau, under the infpec- 
tion of directors appointed by the fociety, 
aad endeavour to carry the art of engrav- 
ing to the higheft degree of perfection, 
which it is capable of attaining in its dif- 
ferent branches, and its different manners. 
Writh the aid of a good drawing-fchool, 
this plan is to be forwarded by the efta- 
blifhment of an inftitution, in which pu- 
pils will be trained up to that ufeful and 
agreeable art, and carefully inftructed in 
every thing effentially conneéjed with it, 
that the eftablifhment may thus acquire 
permanency. 
The fociety did not think proper to an- 
nounce their proje& to the public, uatil 
‘ convinced by fucceflive attempts on the 
different branches, that they could prefent 
the world with productions worthy of 
attention. Now that they have a number 
of plates finifhed in fuch manner as will 
fufficiently prove the meaning of the at- 
tentions as well as the merits of the ar- 
tifts whom they purpofe to employ, they 
will not long delay to announce a publi~ 
eation of their works. ; 
The fociety is compofed of a limited 
number of fub{fcribers, who have furnifh- 
ed the neceffary funds for defraying the 
expences of the undertaking. The prince 
is the protector and head of the fociety. 

FHE FRENCH ACADEMY. 
Some time ago fome of the ftill remain- 
ing members of the ci-devant French 
Academy conceived the defign of inftitut- 
ing an academy for preferving the purity 
of the French language, on the plan of 
the former, but adapted to the exifting 
-laws and conftitution. Accordingly, on 
the 26th of June, the five ci-devant aca- 
demicians, Ducins, Suard, Morellet, Tar- 
get, and Boufllers, fome of whom had 
only returned to France fince the 18th of 
Brumaire ; and again on the firft of July, 
the fame members, with the addition of 
St. Lambert and D’Agueifeau, met for 
the purpofe of forming the new regula- 
tions for the government of the fociety, 
and to ele new members. A report 
had been {pread abroad, that they intend- 
ed to retain all the ftill living members of 
the old academy, and confequently the 
Cardinals Maury and Rohan: but this 
report was unfounded, as, according to 
their new regulations, every member 
mui be a French citizen. Among the 
new members are, the two Confuls, Bo- 
paparte and Lebrun; the Minifters of 
State, Lucien Bonaparte and Talleyrand 5 
the Counfellors of State, Roederer and 
' Devaifnes, &c. 
LIST: 
